SNN106041 - Iron Age and Roman Landscape at Victoria Park, Irchester, Northamptonshire: Updated Project Design, Assessment Report

Northamptonshire Archaeology was commissioned by ProLogis Developments Ltd to undertake archaeological work ahead of the commercial development of Victoria Business Park to the south-west of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. The development was located adjacent top the Roman town of Irchester, a central walled area beyond which lies further settlement and enclosures. The work comprised a detailed watching brief that extended from farmland lying immediately to the west of the Roman walled town to the east side of Whitworth’s Victoria Mill. Two specific areas of identified archaeological potential interest were targeted for open excavation, an Iron Age enclosure and the defences at the south-west corner of the Roman town. The results of the project identified an Iron Age and Roman landscape, with some Saxon and later activity. The Iron Age activity included two ditched enclosures, one of which was probably a small farmstead, from which a quantity of middle to late Iron Age pottery was recovered. The Roman archaeology was more extensive, with the investigation of the south-western corner of the Roman town revealing substantial remains of the town’s defensive stone wall and three defensive ditches. The partial exposure of the Roman town’s extra-mural settlement to the west of the town revealed the remains of buildings sited adjacent to a metalled road. Other features such as ditches, pits and wells were identified. The majority of the Roman pottery appears to date from the 1st to the 3rd centuries AD. A single Saxon sunken-featured building contained early to middle Saxon pottery dated to between 450 and 850 AD. Later activity included the remains of the medieval and post medieval ridge and furrow cultivation system. The most recent events relate to the 19th century ironstone quarrying and a tramway system, with the quarry backfilling during the 20th century returning the land to agriculture.